Buttonhole-cutting machine.



v H. SILVERBERG & C. W. BURGER...

BUTTONHOLE GUTHNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. ms

1,268,398., Patented June 4,1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET l H. SILVERBERG & C. W. BURGER.

BUTTONHQLE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION. HLED JUNE-I15. 1916.

Patented June 4, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2- H. SILVERBERG & C. W. BURGER.

BUTTONHOLE CUTTING MACHINE.

KPPLICATION HLED JUNE15. I916. I 1,258,98. 1 I Patented June 4,1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- H. SILVERBERGYKL C. W. BURGER. BUTTONHOLE'CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. l9l6.

1,268,398. Patented June 4,1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- HARRY SILVERBERG AND CLARENCE W. BURGER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-FOURTH TO SAID BURGER AND THREE-FOURTHS TO SAID SILVERBERG.

' BUTroNnOLE- UTTING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown thatwe, Henry SILVERBERG and CLARENCE VTQBUR GE R, citizens of the United States, residingatgWashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttonhole-Cutting' Machines, of which the fol- I lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for cutting buttonholesin garments during the process of manufacturing, and is particularly applicable to cutting buttonholes along the front edge of coats.

l-ieretoforesuch buttonholes have been cut one at a time'by hand, a special punch. or cutter being used, and great care on the part of the operator was necessary to insure uniform spacing of the holes, both from each other and from the edge of the garment. The proper locating of the buttonholes by this method consumes a large amount of time and necessitates painstaking measurements and moreover, the results are not always as accurate as might be desired.

It is the primary object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a machine having a series of cutters which can be operated simultaneously so as to cut an entire row of holes at a single'stroke and to provide meanswhereby the cutters may be uniformly and accurately set at different distances apart, correspondingwith the size and nature of the garment. v

.A further object is to providea machine of this character having meansfor cutting; the lapel buttonhole at the same time as the other button holes, and so arranged that the lapel buttonhole may be disposed at any suitable angle required.

Other objects and advantages will appear from: the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specificatiomand in whichi- F igure- 1 is a front elevation of the 'com plete machine, partsbeing in'section,"

, Fig. 2 is a plan. view thereof on an en largedscale; l

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Fig.1; I Fig. t is a detailecbperspective view of a gagehereinafter described;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the machine as shown in Fig. 1.;

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed June 15, 1916.

nected by Patented June 4., 1918.

Serial No. 103,752. v

Fig. 6 is a transverse section substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 2, parts being omitted; a

F 7' is asimilar view, taken substantially on the-line 7 7 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow and parts being omitted;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. looking in the direction of the arrow and parts being omitted;

Fig. 9 isan enlarged side elevation, partly in section, showing one of the cutting blades and method of supporting the same;

Fig. 10 is a front view of the same;

Fig. 11 is a detailed section showing the method of supporting the screw shafts here inafter described; and v ig. 12 is a perspective View 011 an enlarged scale, showing one of the anvils with which the main blades cooperate.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine comprisestwo side frames 1, having widespreading feet 2, constituting a base- These side frames .are rigidly conmeans of a pair of bars 3, disposed near the top, and a bar 4 near the bottom. V

On the. bars 3 are mounted a series of cutting devices or mechanisms, designated in their entirety by the reference characters a, b, c, d, e, f. The. cutting device e is fixed, while a, b, c, and d are independently movable, although connected by a mechanism hereinafter described. The cutting device f is movable by means ofimechanism wholly independent of that operatingthe other devices.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 7, one of the cutting devices. such as b, is shown in detail. It comprises a body portion 5, having apair of eyes 6. through which the bars 3 freely pass. At the rear of the body 5 is an upstanding portion 7. carrying at its uper end a pair of spaced eyes 8. Behind the eyes 8 is a horizontally extending lug 9, carrying, an adjustable stop pin 10.

arm 11, pivoted at 12 between the eyes 8,

and provided. with a tailpiece lam-extensive hereinafter 'de,-. scribed. The cutter blade is carriedv by an,

spring 15. which presses against the; lower,; side of the lug 9. This spring, as willbe comprises a lazyt-ongs structure.

underside ofthe evident, serves to maintain the arm in the position shown in Fig. 5, with the underside offthe lug 1 3 in engagement with the end of thestdp pin 10. r

The cutter itself is of the usual form and conprises a blade 16 and heel portion or punch 16. The cutter is preferably set into a dove-tailed or T-shaped block 17, which slides into, a similarly shaped slot in the end: of the arm 11 and is secured in position by means of a set screw 18. An opening 19, extending up through the block and arm 11, permits the escape of'punchings out by the punch 16*". A suitable stripper comprising a leaf spring 20 is preferably secured "tothe arm 11., acent the cutter. These cutters above described cooperate with a rotary anvil 21 (see Fig, This anvil is preferably of hexagonal; form, the faces of which are of progressively decreas: ing lengths, as illustrated at hm, w o. The purpose of this is topermit buttonholes. of different lengths to be cut, as isywell understood in the art. This anvil is provided with a central opening 22, through which a screw 23 passes into the endgof the body 5, the anvil being as above intimated rotatable on such screw so that any desired face may be brought into cooperation with the cutter.

order to shift the cuttin devices (4,1), 0, (Z', along the bar 3, as may e required, I preferably provi lo a screw shaft 24;. journaled at one end in the frame 1, as indicated at 27, and provided with a crank 28 by means QfWlllOll it can be turned:

In shifting the cutting "devices, is, of.

course, essential that a uniform spacing between such devices be maintained. In other, words, while the length of the series,' -or the distance between theffirstand last cuttingdevice may be varied, to correspond with coats ofdiff'erent lengths, all of the devices must, ofcourse, remain the same distance apart. In order to produce this peculiar movement, we have devised the mechanism, shown more particularly in Fig. 2, which mechanism This consists of'a plurality of links 29, each pair of links being pivoted tcgether at their middle, as indicated at 30, and the pairs of links being pivotally connected at their ends by, means f'the'pins 31'. The center pin 30, at

the end of the series, is set into .a block 25, which travels upon the screw 2 while. one of" the intermediate pins 301 carries a supportingblock- I rests loosely upon the screw shaft 2a, The body 50f each of the cutting devices a, Z), 0, (Z,and' e, is provided on its undersidev with a transverse groove 32, in which groove the ends of the pins 3110f the ray tongs struc tur'e freelyslide;

t:;ng-;dev- 'ee'i's fixed. WVhen, scre'wsh- I I I I I I I II sli ing: he e ts nd. exp n s Q e tracts tho-eras the 2 6, which is not threaded, but.

As before stated,'the cut- 2st is'rotated, the block 25 travels the lazy tongs structure, as the case may be, thus shifting the cutting devices a, b, 0, and (Z, simultaneously. Timpani-1m thing about the movement, however, is that all of these devices are shifted unequal distances, thealnou nt of travel of each being directly proportional to its distance from the fixed cutting device 6. Thus the device a has the greatest movement, 6 the next, etc. The. result of this is that as the series of cutting devices is lengthened or shortened, as the lazy tongs structure or contracted, the' distance between'the cutting devices d. ,12 and 0 nd d ant c, r m in n o m t r ugho t the s rie hu n equ l spacing f. e; buttonho e is a sured- T utting. devis fie nt nde for .1

33 by m an f a plv ted. p inth xis o. t nd, the ace at Wi Thisbhct ha a a of the screw 39, It w1llbe understoodthat he blocks and haves wive d; b unc me hat h block .8 be turned about the $Q W 3 to an desire an le he, anvi a1 cooperating W1 11 l e cutter blade 16, is mounted 0Q .5.Wh 59 is p v s-1 v c nn to a block e by means f. a even is. The block 43 has a. shank 15, which slidably mounted in an opening inthe body 5 of'the cutting device and'is secured in ad; i s p io he ei y m ans. f screw 4:,7; '1

The body 5 of the device f is provided with a central downwardly extending lug 85, which hasa screw-threaded opening en gaging a screw shaft. 34- journaled at one end in thefrarne 1,, as indicatedat, and; p dedv h an perating wa k Thetwcoscrew shafts and; 34 are pref-r erably in alinement, and; arcjtogether rotatably supported in a lug .6" depe the body 5 of' the cutting 'de ic shown in Fig. 11, the sh .ft 24 end 4C9 which is j ournaled in lug 6", while the shaft I into a similarly. shaped socket in theg d of the shaft. 24. "Thus, the shafts 24:

are capablelof independent movement, each 341' has a pin 48" be 4 educed In order to simultaneously operate all of the cutter arms a common actuator is provided, and a yielding cushion is preferably interposed. between such cushion and each individual cutter arm. On top of each arm 11 is mounted a clip 50, held in position by a screw and thumb nut 51, and capable of being swung around such screw when the thumb nut iscloosened. The clip 50 is provided with a cup or socket in which is seated a short, stiff helical spring 52, such spring preferably carrying at its upper end a cap 53.

The actuator consists of a beam or bar 54, extending the full length of the machine and disposed directly above the caps 53, which caps are located in a straight line. The bar 54 has trunnions 54' which slide in slotted guideways 55, secured to the end frames 1. Operating rods 56 are secured to the ends of the beam 54 and, extending downwardly adjacent each side frame, are pivotally connected at their lower ends to arms 57 journaled upon the rod 4. The outer end of the arms 57 is connected by a foot-board 58, constituting a treadle. Helical springs 59 are provided and arranged with one end connected to the end frames as at 60, and the other end connected to the rods 56, as indicated at 61. As a result of these springs the treadle 58 and actuating beam 54 are normally held in the elevated position shown in the drawing. When it is desired to operate the cutters, the t'readle is depressed, thus drawing the actuating bar down and causing it to engage the caps 53 mounted on the main arms 11. The cutter arms are thus forced downwardly against the anvils, the springs 52 yielding so as to insure each cutter being firmly and operatively pressed against its corresponding anvil.

If, for any reason, it is desired to throw any particular cutter out of action, it is simply necessary to loosen the corresponding thumb nut 51 and swing the clip 50 around to such an extent that the cap 53 and spring 52 are withdrawn from the path of movement of the actuator bar 54. In Fig. 5, the clip is shown in dotted lines as swung to inoperative position.

A suitable work-table is supported by the frames 1 and extends along behind the series of cutters. This table preferably has a thin, forward edge 63, formed of metal or other suitable material, which lies adjacent the anvils 21. Mounted on the edge 63 is a gage, which is shown in detail in Fig. 4. This gage consists of an angle strip 64, having near its ends transverse slots 65, through which pass clamping screws, and this strip may be adjusted in accordance with a scale 66 formed on the table and clamped in such a position as willlproduce the button-holes the desired distance from the edge of the work. The vertical flange of the strip 64 is provided with an extended longitudinal slot 67, through which works a clamping screw 68. This screw 68 passes through one arm 69 of an angle bracket, the other arm 70 of which constitutes a stop against which the end of the garment abuts, so as to properly position the garment under the cutters. This gage is particularly useful in correctly locating the lapel buttonhole.

In front of the cutters is provided a shelf or platform 71, supported on brackets 72, secured to the end frames 1. These brackets are provided with "slots 73, through which work screws having thumb nuts 74.

By this means the shelf 71 can be adjusted vertically to the desired height.

It will thus be seen that we have pro vided a machine which can be quickly adjusted to accurately cut a series of buttonholes of any desired spacing at a single stroke, and it is thought that the many advantages of our invention will be readily appreciated without further discussion.

What we claim is:

1. In a buttonhole cutting machine, the combination with a fixed supporting frame, of a series of carriers slidably mounted thereon, cutting mechanism comprising an independent anvil and associated die mounted on each carrier, said dies being set in arms pivotally secured to said carriers and disposed above said anvils, means for simultaneously shifting said carriers bodily along the frame so that each carrier is moved to an extent proportional to its distance from the end of the series, a common actuating bar extending above said series of carriers and mechanically independent thereof, said bar adapted to engage said pivoted arms and thus operate the dies, and means for reciprocating said bar.

2. In a buttonhole-cutting machine, the combination with a group of cutting devices, and a single additional cutting device disposed at the end of the group, means for simultaneously actuating all of said devices, mechanism for shifting the position of the members of said group, relative to each other, and independent mechanism for adjusting the position of said single additional cutting device at the end relative to the first member of the group.

3. In a buttonhole cutting machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a series of independent cutting devices carried thereby, one of said devices being fixed to the frame. and the othersbeing slidably mounted thereon, each of said devices comprising a body portion engaging the frame, an anvil secured to said body portion, and a die-carrying arm pivotally mounted on said body portion, a lazy tong structure disposed underneath said series of cutting devices and secured at one end to the body portion of said fixed cutting device, the body portions of the movable cutting clevices having grooves in which the pivot pins of the intermediate joints of the lazy tong structure engage, means for simultaneously actuating said die-carrying arms, and means for operating said lazy tong structure to shift said movable cutting devices.

4-. In a buttonhole-cutting machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a plurality of cutting devices mounted thereon, each comprising an arm, a common actuator for said devices, and a resilient cushioning element interposed between said actuator and the arm of each cutting device.

5. In a buttonhole-cutti'ng machine, the combination With a supporting frame, of a plurality of cutting devices mounted thereon, each comprising a pivoted arm anda rigid anvil, and means-for applying a yielding pressure on said arms to actuate the same.

6. In a buttonhole cutting machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a plurality of cutting devices mounted thereon, each comprising a pivoted arm, a common actuating bar independent of said cutting devices for simultaneously operating the pivoted arms thereof, and means movably mounted on each arm, serving, when in one position, to transmit movement of said actuator to said arm, and, when in another Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing,- the Washington, D. 0..

position,preventingthe operation of the arm by said actuator.

7. In. a buttonhole' cutting machine, a series; of cutting devices each comprising a pivoted arm, and all of said arms being oi substantially the same le'n h, a blade mount ed at the end of each arm, the blades of all of the cutting devices except the end one lying in parallel planes, the end blade being so connected With its arm'a's to permit adj ustment at an angle to such planes, and means for varying the effective length of the arm carrying such angularly adjustable blade.

' 8'. In a buttonhole-cutting machine, the combination with a series of cutters, of a Work table disposed adjacent thereto, and a gage mounted on said table in position to be engaged by the work, said gage comprising a bar laterally adjustable" on said table for determining the distance of the buttonhol'es from the edge of the garment, and a bracket adjustable on said bar for'determi-ning the distance of the last buttonhole from the end of the garment;

I In testimony whereof We have affixed our signatures.

HARRY SILVERBERG.

CLARENCE IV. BURGER. 'Witnesses O. A. Nam, J. H. BOYIJEN.

Gornmissioner of Eatents, 

